HARDEN THE HEART, HARDENING (קָשָׁה, H7996, Hiphil, make hard, stiff, stubborn; חָזַק, H2616, Piel, make rigid, hard; כָּבֵד֒, H3877, make heavy, hard; אָמֵץ, H599, Piel, harden, make obstinate; σκληρύνω, G5020, harden, be hardened; πωρόω, G4800, make dull, obtuse, blind; πώρωσις, G4801, hardening, dulling). Both testaments utilize these terms in several combinations to express the idea of stubborn human resistance to God. קָשָׁה, H7996, describes a hard spirit, neck (2 Chron 30:8), heart (Exod 7:3), face (Ezek 2:4 KJV), and forehead (Ezek 3:7), each standing for the opposition of the entire self. Twice, קָשָׁה, H7996, and אָמֵץ, H599, occur together in the same v. (Deut 2:30; 2 Chron 36:13) with reference to the hardened hearts of Sihon and Zedekiah.

Scripture says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (קָשָׁה, H7996, Exod 7:3, חָזַק, H2616, Exod 14:4, כָּבֵד֒, H3877, Exod 10:1) and that Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Exod 9:34, 35; 13:15). Paul appeals to the sovereignty of God in discussing Pharaoh (Rom 9:18), although the factor of human responsibility through repeated warnings is clearly involved (1 Sam 6:6). Because of Pharaoh’s stubbornness, God made him judicially blind.

Hardening one’s heart brings punishment (Prov 29:1) as is evident in Israel’s resistance at Meribah (Ps 95:8). Refusal to listen, to obey, or to be thankful characterize the harddened heart, and Israel is portrayed as a prime example of this condition (2 Kings 17:14; Neh 9:16, 17; Heb 3:8).

The disciples’ hearts were said to be hardened or dull when they failed to understand the miracle of the loaves (Mark 6:52; 8:17). Gentile unbelievers are alienated from God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart (Eph 4:18). With reference to Israel, Paul states that “the elect obtained it (grace) but the rest were hardened” (Rom 11:7). The individuals themselves are said to be hardened, rather than the heart or mind (2 Cor 3:14). Romans 11:25 mentions the present hardness or insensibility of Israel.

Bibliography G. L. Archer, A Survey of Old Testament Introduction (1964), 116.